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Kanye names album 'The Life of Pablo' - but who's Pablo?

Kanye West performs during the closing ceremony of the Pan Am Games in Toronto, on July 26, 2015. (Julio Cortez / AP)

AFP
Published Thursday, February 11, 2016 12:02PM EST

Kanye West has finally explained the title of his long-awaited album on the eve of its release -- for the most part.

The rap superstar, who is expected to unveil the album at a fashion show at New York's Madison Square Garden on Thursday, wrote on Twitter that the album is called "The Life of Pablo."

West had repeatedly given different titles for his seventh studio album including "Swish" and "Waves" before announcing that he had settled on "T.L.O.P." without saying what it stood for.

But the immediate question is -- who is Pablo?

Many social media users immediately speculated that West was talking about Pablo Picasso.

The 38-year-old rapper, who styles himself as a Renaissance man with interests in music, art and fashion, last year spoke at Oxford University where he said: "My goal, if I was going to do art -- fine art -- would have been to become Picasso or greater."

West has also compared himself to Michelangelo and said he plans to run for the US presidency in 2020.

Other social media users wondered if West was referring to the late Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, Chilean literary great Pablo Neruda or an entirely fictional Pablo.

West also revealed a track list for the album which notably does not include "No More Parties in LA," a song he recently released for free that features acclaimed rapper Kendrick Lamar.

West, a master of staying in the spotlight, holds a show on Thursday at Madison Square Garden for the latest season of his Yeezy clothing line, during which he is due to present the album.

His wife, reality television star Kim Kardashian, posted Wednesday on Twitter a shiny boot with a tall heel that she said was part of the upcoming Yeezy collection.

With 21 Grammys, West is tied with fellow rapper Jay Z as the 10th most accoladed artist of all time.

His last album, "Yeezus," came out in 2013 and featured a harder sound inspired by the drill scene in his native Chicago.